At least 60 people have been killed and 754 detained in a night of violence across Turkey sparked when elements in the military staged an attempted coup, a senior Turkish official said. Government officials say the coup appeared to have failed as Turks took to the streets overnight to confront troops. Most of those killed are civilians.
At least 60 people have been killed and 754 detained in a night of violence across Turkey sparked when elements in the military staged an attempted coup, a senior Turkish official said. Government officials say the coup appeared to have failed as Turks took to the streets overnight to confront troops. Most of those killed are civilians.
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Here is a list developments that took place throughout the night:
- A military group attempted a coup and imposed martial law overnight in Turkey, reported Turkey Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.
- Rumours of a coup had been flying around the country since April.
- Turkish citizens woke up confused on Saturday, when they saw the army on the streets and heard bombings. Tanks were brought out on the streets and the bridges on Bosphorus river were blocked.
- Helicopters and fighter jets were reported to be flying low over the city of Ankara before the coup. The treasonous army, backed by air support, dropped bombs and rained bullets over the city.
- A helicopter even landed at CNN Turk, forcing the media members out at gunpoint, and asking them to broadcast an empty studio instead of the news of the coup.
- Hours after the attempted coup, Turkey’s National Intelligence Unit declared the coup a failure.
- The coup leaders claimed they were fighting for a democracy.
- Turkey on Saturday appointed a new acting army chief of staff after an attempted coup to topple the government, the Yildirim said.
- General Umit Dundar, commander of the First Army, has been appointed as acting chairman of chief of staff, Binali Yildirim said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said he did not know whereabouts of former army chief Hulusi Akar.
- Erdogan predicted that the putsch would fail and crowds of supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) came out onto the streets to try to block it.
- After hours of chaos unseen in decades, the President ended uncertainty over his whereabouts, flying into Istanbul airport in the early hours where he made a defiant speech and was greeted by hundreds of supporters.
- Erdogan denounced the coup attempt as “treachery” but said he was carrying out his functions and would keep on working “to the end”. “What is being perpetrated is a treason and a rebellion. They will pay a heavy price for this act of treason,” Erdogan said at the airport. “We will not leave our country to occupiers.”
- As protesters took to the streets, a news agency photographer saw troops open fire on people gathered near one of the bridges, leaving tens wounded. Soldiers also opened shot at protesters angrily denouncing the coup bid at Istanbul’s famous Taksim Square, injuring several.
